# List of IBS Centers

IBS Centers are research centers operated by the Institute for Basic Science. There are 31 institutes as of August 2020. Centers are organized into six disciplines according to their research area:
* Physics
* Chemistry
* Life sciences
* Interdisciplinary
* Mathematics
* Earth science

## HQ, campus, and extramural

As of March 2025, the following HQ, campus, and extramural IBS Centers exist (in alphabetical order):
| Name | Director | City, university | Research area |
| Center for 2D Quantum Heterostructures | Shin Hyeon Suk | Daejeon, Sungkyunkwan University | Interdisciplinary |
| Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics | Ihee Hyotcherl | Daejeon, KAIST | Chemistry |
| Center for Algorithmic and Robotized Synthesis (Formerly Center for Soft and Living Matter) | Bartosz Grzybowski | Ulsan, UNIST | Interdisciplinary |
| Center for Artificial Low Dimensional Electronic Systems | Yeom Han-woong | Pohang, POSTECH | Physics |
| Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research - Dark Matter Axion Group | Youn SungWoo | Daejeon, HQ | Physics |
| Center for Catalytic Hydrocarbon Functionalizations | Chang Sukbok | Daejeon, KAIST | Chemistry |
| Center for Climate Physics | Axel Timmermann | Busan, Pusan National University | Earth science |
| Center for Cognition and Sociality - Cognitive Glioscience Group | Changjoon Justin Lee | Daejeon, HQ | Life sciences |
| Center for Cognition and Sociality - Learning and Memory Group | Kaang Bong-kiun | Daejeon, HQ | Life sciences |
| Center for Complex Geometry | Hwang Jun-Muk | Daejeon, HQ | Mathematics |
| Center for Correlated Electron Systems | Noh Tae-won | Seoul, Seoul National University | Physics |
| Center for Van der Waals Quantum Solids | Jo Moon-Ho | Pohang, POSTECH | Physics |
| Center for Exotic Nuclear Studies | Kevin Insik Hahn | Daejeon, HQ | Physics |
| Center for Genome Engineering | Koo Bon-Kyoung | Seoul, Seoul National University | Interdisciplinary |
| Center for Genomic Integrity | Myung Kyungjae | Ulsan, UNIST | Life sciences |
| Center for Geometry and Physics | Yong-Geun Oh | Pohang, POSTECH | Mathematics |
| Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics | Lee Young Hee | Suwon, Sungkyunkwan University | Physics |
| Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics | Cho Minhaeng | Seoul, Korea University | Chemistry |
| Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials | Rodney S. Ruoff | Ulsan, UNIST | Chemistry |
| Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions | Ryoo Ryong | Daejeon, KAIST | Chemistry |
| Center for Nanomedicine | Cheon Jinwoo | Seoul, Yonsei University | Interdisciplinary |
| Center for Nanoparticle Research | Hyeon Taeghwan | Seoul, Seoul National University | Chemistry |
| Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research - Neuro Technology Group | Kim Seong-gi | Suwon, Sungkyunkwan University | Interdisciplinary |
| Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research - Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience Group | Lau Hakwan | Suwon, Sungkyunkwan University | Interdisciplinary |
| Center for Quantum Conversion Research | Kim Yousoo | Gwangju, GIST | Interdisciplinary |
| Center for Quantum Nanoscience | Andreas J. Heinrich | Seoul, Ewha Womans University | Physics |
| Center for Relativistic Laser Science | Kim Kyung Taec | Gwangju, GIST | Physics |
| Center for RNA Research | Kim V. Narry | Seoul, Seoul National University | Life sciences |
| Center for Self-assembly and Complexity | Kim Kimoon | Pohang, POSTECH | Chemistry |
| Center for Study of Emerging and Re-emerging Viruses | Choi Young Ki | Daejeon, KAIST | Life sciences |
| Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions | Kim EunJoon | Daejeon, KAIST | Life sciences |
| Center for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems | Sergej Flach | Daejeon, HQ | Physics |
| Center for Theoretical Physics of the Universe (Particle Theory and Cosmology Group) | Choi Kiwoon | Daejeon, HQ | Physics |
| Center for Theoretical Physics of the Universe (Cosmology, Gravity and Astroparticle Physics Group) | Yamaguchi Masahide (山口昌英 [ヤマグチ マサヒデ]) | Daejeon, HQ | Physics |
| Center for Underground Physics | Kim Yeongduk (ko) | Daejeon, HQ | Physics |
| Center for Vascular Research | Koh Gou Young | Daejeon, KAIST | Life sciences |

## Pioneer research centers

Pioneer Research Centers (PRC) are headquarters-based centers headed not by a director, but by a group of up to five chief investigators. As of August 2022, the following IBS pioneer research centers exist (in alphabetical order):
| Name | Group | Chief investigator | Research area |
| PRC for Biomolecular and Cellular Structure | Biomolecular Sociology Group | Woo Jae-Sung | Interdisciplinary |
| PRC for Climate and Earth Science | Planetary Atmospheres Group | Lee Yeon Joo | Earth science |
| PRC for Mathematical and Computational Sciences | Biomedical Mathematics Group | Kim Jae Kyoung | Mathematics |
| PRC for Mathematical and Computational Sciences | Data Science Group | Cha Meeyoung | Mathematics |
| PRC for Mathematical and Computational Sciences | Discrete Mathematics Group | Oum Sang-il | Mathematics |
| PRC for Mathematical and Computational Sciences | Extremal Combinatorics and Probability Group | Liu Hong | Mathematics |

## Former centers

| Name | Director | City, University | Research area | Closure date |
| Academy of Immunology and Microbiology | Charles Surh | Pohang, POSTECH | Life sciences | October 2019 |
| Center for Plant Aging Research | Nam Hong Gil | Daegu, DGIST | Life sciences | August 2021 |
| Center for Viral Immunology | Shin Eui-Cheol | Daejeon, KAIST | Life sciences |